The Illoryn
is a large waterbird known for the male's spectacular long tail feathers with
eyelike markings that can be erected and expanded in display like a fan. The
Illoryn's natural environment is middle
Santharia, with Nermeran in the north
and the desert in the south excluded. The Illoryn is also known as the "Prince
of the Lake".

Appearance.The Illoryn has a
graceful, long, neck, a heavy body and big, grey, webbed, feet. The male has
quite a spectacular appearance, with lustrous tail feathers half a
ped long. It comes in two
subspecies; the blue, or whiskered, Illoryn and the purple Illoryn. The female,
however, has a mottled grey body and short tail feathers, but still has a
colored head and neck.

The blue or whiskered Illoryn male has a deep blue body, blue, iridescent tail
feathers and a pair of thin whiskers growing from the sides of his head. The
male purple Illoryn has a blue body, violet-blue tail feathers and no whiskers.
Female purple Illoryn differ only from blue ones with the color of their heads
being a slightly lighter blue. The blue Illoryn is the more common variety.

The male can have up to 150 long tail feathers, each sporting a green-and-copper
"eye" at the tip. They are supported from underneath with shorter tail feathers.
The feathers shimmer in sunlight. Why they are so spectacular is unknown, but
they are used in the process of attracting a mate.

The bill is grey with a black tip. It is slightly longer and slightly more
slender than a goose's bill but still rounded. The Illoryn seem to glide over
the water when swimming but flies clumsily
with its neck outstretched. The young, called illorettes, are short-necked and
thickly downed. Immature Illoryn wear mottled grey plumage for two years or
more. Excluding the tail, the Illoryn is about one
ped and two
fores long, with an almost
three-ped wingspan. The tail
feathers grow to half a ped
in length. It is heavy as well, weighing more than four hebs.

Special Abilities.
The Illoryn is special only because of the tail feathers. This is actually an
impediment to flying which acts more as a disadvantage to the species rather
than an advantage. However, the Illoryn is a fast swimmer; while seeming calm
and serene above the water, it is paddling like mad underneath.

Territory.
The Illoryn's natural environment is middle
Santharia, with Nermeran in the north
and the desert in the south excluded. However, Illoryn have been naturalized in
a wide variety of places for decoration. As a result of this, they have appeared
in the wild in new areas.

The Illoryn will be seen in any fresh water, salt marsh or protected bay
sufficiently large to hold enough of its food and not freeze during the winter,
lakes being the most common. Ephirn's Lake
is a favorite spot for the rarer purple Illoryn, some of them even flying there
from other areas.

Habitat/Behaviour.
The Illoryn is a solitary bird, spending its days lazily swimming around in its
home pond or lake, looking for food. The exception is during the mating and
hatching season, when the female guards her nest with a fervor and will even
threaten larger creatures, such as the kaimun, by
spreading her wings, ruffling her feathers and jabbing with her beak.

While not remarkably good fliers, the ability to fly is vital to escaping
predators and finding suitable homes in the wild. In the end, Illoryn rarely fly
long distances and don't migrate.

Illoryn rarely make a sound. They are not completely silent, but the few sounds
they make are soft and can only be heard from a short distance. The exception is
if an Illoryn is disturbed, in which case it will hiss and snort. In addition,
the wings make a soughing sound when in flight.

Diet.
Illoryn are foragers, subsisting mainly on the leaves, seeds, stems and tubers
of submerged aquatic vegetation, algae and grasses. Exactly what is consumed
depends on what is found in the environment; Illoryn will also feed on the seeds
and young shoots of cultivated grains and even small fish, frogs and insects.

Mating.
The breeding season for Illoryn lasts throughout the warm half the year. The
exact time of the year it takes place can vary depending on local weather; the
aim is to hatch their young in warm weather. Sexual maturity is reached at three
years of age when the males have grown their colorful tail feathers.

The male Illoryn puts on a show to attract the female. He raises his tail
feathers into the air and shakes them, creating a sound similar to leaves
rustling in the wind. He faces the female Illoryn and follows her around, across
the water. If she takes interest, she will allow him to mate with her.

The male Illoryn doesn't assist the female in hatching and raising the young.
She lays her eggs discreetely among reeds or other vegetation near the
water. They are pale and unmarked and about
half a dozen. Sometimes, the female Illoryn will also lay decoy eggs in the open
to distract predators.
Usages.
Illoryn have never been tamed but they have been naturalized in parks and
palatial gardens which feature water for decoration. Borrowed or newly captured
Illoryn are sometimes used at extravagant parties, also for decoration.

Illoryn feathers are used for decoration. They can stand together with long,
dried, flowers in a vase. The feathers can also be incorporated into costumes,
masks, head dresses, feather fans and jewelry. The feathers are shed annually
and gathered as a valuable crop.

Rich or royal people certainly enjoy eating Illoryn. They taste like fishy
mutton, but it isn't the taste that appeals but the prestige. A roasted Illoryn
can be a spectacular centerpiece at a banquet. The Illoryn use to be skinned and
then re-dressed once the cooking is complete. It is served well-seasoned and
with a spicy sauce, the exact ingredients varying.

Myth/Lore.
According to folklore, Illoryn can make no sounds through their throats;
however, experts know this to be false.
The following quaint lullabye was overheard in a little southern
Santharian town and recorded for the
Compendium by the
Masterbard Judith. She describes the
tune as "plaintive but soothing", using only a simple five-note scale to create
a sense of peace and tranquility. Note the way in which "illorette", the
technical name for an Illoryn chick, has been beautifully incorporated as an
endearment into the lullabye.

See the sleepy Illoryn,
On the silver stream,
Nods her tired graceful head,
Goes into a dream.

Hushie, baby, shush, my darling,
Sleep, my little illorette,
Time for wee ones now to slumber,
Not to cry and not to fret.

See the shimmer on the sea,
Shines like copper ore,
Flashing feathers down shall lie,
Swim and dive no more.

Hushie, baby, shush, my darling,
Mother's precious, do not weep,
Time for chickies all to slumber,
Close their eyes and go to sleep.

Researchers. A single Illoryn tail feather has been found in
Thaelon Forest, and bird experts have
concluded that it didn't come from either a blue or a purple Illoryn. A search
for a so far unknown subspecies of Illoryn has begun.